Deciding on a Points System
We want to estimate quickly and confidently, so it is important not to overthink the range of story points to be used. Here are a few options:-
- Numerical sequence, i.e. 1,2,3,4,5,…13
This sequence is used with “Planning Poker”. You will find that you do not need 13
choices, stick to 5 or 6, say 1,3,6,9,11,13 or 1,2,3,4,5, which we use in another
estimation technique “Fist of Five”.
- Fibonacci sequence, where the next number in the sequence is the sum of the previous two numbers, or 1,2,3,5,8, and so on. Fibonacci is also used in Planning Poker.
- T-shirt size, XS, S, M, L and XL
The aim of only having a few choices is to make the decision-making quick. We also do not recommend a value of zero, it implies that a story that scores zero adds no value to the project, so why has it been included? It also affects our velocity calculations.
The next thing to consider is the selection and estimation of a base story.
Recommended Further Reading
The following materials may assist you in order to get the most out of this course: